Lighting & Comp Supervisor - Expression of Interest

Expression of Interest – Future Opportunities

Kickstart Entertainment is building a network of talented professionals for potential upcoming productions. While this position is not currently open and no project or start date has been confirmed, we'd love to hear from individuals interested in being considered for future opportunities.

Applications will be kept on file, and shortlisted candidates may be contacted if and when a suitable opportunity becomes available.

Please Note: This posting is an expression of interest only and does not represent an offer of employment or a guarantee that this position will be filled. Any future hiring is subject to project approval, business requirements, updated role requirements, and Kickstart's staffing needs.

The Lighting & Comp Supervisor leads the artistic and technical execution of lighting, rendering, and compositing across the production. Working closely with the production's Director, Producer and key creatives, this role establishes and maintains the production's visual language from lighting kickoffs to final delivery, guiding surfacing styles, lighting, comp and FX. The Supervisor balances creative ambition with schedule and pipeline realities while building a clear, collaborative environment in which artists can do their best work.

Production Responsibilities:

• Lead the Lighting & Comp phase for this Production in collaboration with the Producer, Director and other key in-house and vendor creatives, setting clear artistic and technical objectives for the team.
• Translate the approved creative vision into practical lighting and compositing standards, including sequence looks, shot templates, light rigs, render strategies, and compositing approaches.
• Establish the look of sequences and episodes, prepare clear kickoff materials, and communicate creative intent and technical expectations to internal and partner studio teams.
• Review lighting scripts, lighting masters and LRC/FX through lighting, rendering, and compositing; provide clear, actionable feedback and approve work for submission to the Director and client.
• Provide creative and technical solutions in using textures, surfacing, and lighting to achieve a look that meet the overall creative vision of the production.
• Maintain visual continuity and technical consistency across shots, sequences, and episodes, ensuring the established style supports storytelling, mood, and performance.
• Along with Animation Team members and Partner Studio team, assess asset readiness and technical feasibility, identify risks early, and develop production-friendly solutions that preserve the creative intent.
• Provide hands-on support for key, hero, or technically complex shots and create representative work that establishes a quality benchmark for the team.
• Guide, mentor, and support Lighting & Comp artists through creative, technical, and continuity challenges; provide constructive feedback and contribute to performance and development conversations as requested.
• Collaborate with Production to plan workloads, priorities, staffing, and review cadence; monitor progress and communicate schedule, quality, or resource risks early.
• Work closely with partner studio teams and IT & Pipeline Team, to maintain a smooth flow of files, notes, approvals, and production information across locations and time zones. 
• Proactively troubleshoot lighting, rendering, compositing, colour, and pipeline issues, working with the creative and IT & Pipeline Team to resolve blockers and improve reliability. Striving to hit high quality with style and scope in mind with creative production friendly solutions.
• Collaborate with IT & Pipeline Team on developing, testing, and implementing tools, templates, and workflows that improve efficiency, render performance, consistency, and artist usability without compromising quality.
• Participate in relevant production, creative, and client meetings; present work clearly, propose solutions, and ensure feedback is understood and carried through to any additional team members.
• Support recruiting, onboarding, and training for the department, including portfolio reviews and hiring recommendations, when requested.

Studio Responsibilities:

• Contribute to production retrospectives by identifying successes, challenges, and practical improvements for future work.
• Document Lighting & Comp workflows, review expectations, and best practices for inclusion in the production and studio knowledge base.
• Ensure all work adheres to pipeline requirements, naming conventions, and file management standards
• Contribute to a positive team environment aligned with Kickstart’s core values
• Interact respectfully and professionally with colleagues, partners, and clients
• Additional duties as requested
  

Requirements

• 6+ years of production experience in lighting and compositing for CG animation, VFX, or a similar production environment, including experience supervising or leading artists and workflows.
• A strong portfolio or demo reel demonstrating an expert understanding of light, colour, composition, visual storytelling, and shot continuity; a shot breakdown is expected.
• Advanced proficiency in Maya or comparable 3D software, with experience using Arnold or another production renderer.
• Strong understanding of CG lighting and compositing principles, look development workflows, render layers and passes, colour management, and scene and render optimization.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with partner studios and distributed teams across multiple time zones, providing clear communication, feedback, and direction.
• Ability to interpret and translate feedback from Directors, clients, and key creatives into clear priorities and actionable notes for artists.
• Demonstrated leadership, coaching, and team-building skills, with the ability to set expectations, make decisions, and maintain focus through changing production needs.
• Experience collaborating with Directors, Supervisors, Production, Pipeline, and Technical teams to resolve complex creative and technical challenges.
• Ability to adapt to changes in pipeline, software, and technology, with sound knowledge of current animation and VFX production practices.
• Working knowledge of CG software specifically in handling textures/surfacing and LRC (ie UNREAL, Arnold, Maya)
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with partner studios and distributed teams across multiple time zones, providing clear communication, feedback, and direction.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate creative and technical feedback clearly and professionally.
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and maintain quality standards in a fast-paced production environment
• Working knowledge of Flow Production Tracking (fka Shotgrid)
• Proficiency in Google Workspace (Mail, Calendar, Drive, Sheets, Docs) and Slack
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to artistic and technical excellence

Bonus Requirements:

• Working knowledge of Python, MEL, shell scripting, or related workflow automation is an asset.

Benefits

Kickstart Entertainment is a growing animation and production studio with locations in Vancouver, Los Angeles, Arkansas, Hong Kong, Suzhou, and Mumbai. We believe in the power of collaboration—it shows in the way we work and in the supportive, creative environment we've built where innovation and great ideas thrive.

At Kickstart, we know that experience comes in many forms. You may not meet every qualification listed, and that's okay. If your skills and experience are closely aligned with what we're looking for, we encourage you to apply. We value diverse perspectives and believe they make our team stronger.

Why Kickstart?

Having the right experience and skills is only one part of what we're looking for. We seek people who align with our Core Values and who are just as passionate about building an inclusive, collaborative, and supportive workplace as they are about creating exceptional content.

Together, we're building a globally recognized studio known for outstanding storytelling, creative excellence, and a culture where talented people can do their best work.

Kickstart is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive, and accessible workplace throughout every stage of the employee journey, including recruitment. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are committed to providing equal employment opportunities.

If you require accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know when contacted, and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Create. Collaborate. Kickstart.

Salary Range: $1900 -2200 per week / Equivalent Annual Salary: $98,800 - $114,400 annual

Employment Type: Full-Time

Work Arrangement: Hybrid (combination of in-studio and remote work)

Disclaimer: Kickstart may use AI-assisted tools during the recruitment process to help organize, screen, and assess applications. These tools support our hiring team but do not make hiring decisions. All employment decisions are made by people.

Your personal information will be handled confidentially and in accordance with applicable privacy laws and will only be used for recruitment and employment-related purposes.